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County Commissioners cut budget by $400K, approve tax rate

Wed, 09/23/2020 - 5:00 am
  • County Commissioners cut budget by $400K, approve tax rate  
    County Commissioners approved the 2021 budget and tax rate during the Monday, September 14 meeting inside the Stephens County Courthouse. Commissioners also took action on the contract between the Stephens County Jail and Southern Health Partners and lift

Stephens County Commissioners approved the 2021 budget and tax rate during the Monday, September 14 inside the Stephens County Courthouse.

During the meeting, commissioners approved the 2021 tax rate for the county of .80 percent, which includes a Maintenance and Operation tax rate at .687 percent. The approval also includes an Interest and Sinking tax rate, which is used to pay off long-term debt, of .113 percent for a total county tax rate of .80 percent.

“The total of .80 percent will be our tax rate for the fiscal year 2021,” Stephens County Judge Michael Roach said. “A lot of taxing entities went to a no new revenue rate. That’s getting the same revenue as last year, and we’re getting less than last year. We’re cutting $300,000 out of our budget, so all together, we’ve cut over $400,000 in the budget. It’s going to hurt us next year, but given the position we are in, those tough decisions had to be made.”

Commissioners signed a resolution on Tuesday, May 26, pledging no new tax revenue for 2021. The resolution cites the reduction in wages due to COVID-19, falling mineral value, the reduction of income from agriculture businesses as having negatively impacted Stephens County.

To better alleviate the burden on citizens, the County cut spending by reducing the workforce, lowering elected official’s salaries, and employing lean operating strategies county-wide.

Commissioners also took action on the contract between the Stephens County Jail and Southern Health Partners.

“It’s time for our annual renewal for the health plan with the jail and we’ve budgeted for this,” Stephens County Judge Michael Roach said. “It went from $91,000 to $93,000, as it went up 3%, and they cited the rising health care cost as the reason.”

Stephens County commissioners also voted to lift the burn ban after an active summer. The ban was lifted after a week of rain.